Chapter 241: Vanessa Nash!
A Fateful Meeting
The half-hour meeting saw Jack Harvey roar for twenty minutes, berating everyone until they couldn't lift their heads.
The meeting concluded hastily in a stifling atmosphere.
Jack Harvey slammed the door shut, told his assistant to go home, and drove his Humvee out of the underground parking lot alone.
An hour later, the Humvee stopped at a suburban golf course. Jack Harvey got out, and a caddie directed him to the VIP section, where a teenager in a gray jacket was lying in a deck chair, sunbathing.
Jack Harvey sat down in a chair opposite the youth and said grimly,
"Amanda is severely injured and unconscious. It's unlikely she'll pull through."
Luke took a sip of mango juice and said calmly,
"Our President finally couldn't restrain himself. It makes sense; four years of suppression in exchange for this moment of ascension. Even a human might not be able to hold back, let alone a demon."
"Amanda is dying."
Jack Harvey repeated his words, stressing the urgency.
Luke glanced at him. "Aren't you two rivals? Why the concern about her life and death?"
Jack said coldly, "I don't want to end up like her."
"That's not something you should be saying to me."
Luke set down his glass. "Amanda's situation has nothing to do with me."
"I know it has nothing to do with you. I'm referring to Joel Nash. Amanda was a key part of the plan. Now that her life hangs in the balance, we've lost an important bargaining chip and a witness. What do you plan to do next? I must warn you, we are fighting not just a demon, but the President of the United States." He paused, then added,
"You can use any means necessary to kill a demon, but you cannot use those methods against a President. If we cause a public breakdown of the system, the only people who will suffer are us."
Luke frowned slightly. After a few seconds of thought, he said hesitantly,
"You mean we must find a way to get human witnesses and material evidence to prove he is a demon masquerading as the President, and only then can we act?"
"What else?"
Jack Harvey said gravely, "That is the President. We cannot move against him without evidence. Doing so is tantamount to trampling the system and will lead to even more terrible consequences."
Luke raised an eyebrow, looking him over strangely.
"I never would have guessed you were a patriot."
"I am the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Patriotism is my duty."
"That's a good statement. I agree wholeheartedly."
Luke dropped his smile, his expression turning serious. "Then tell me what to do. Hoping Joel Nash will admit he's a demon? Don't be ridiculous. He's played the role of mediator for four years, holding back his immense power and appearing weak to the public. You surely know the purpose of this."
"He has been systematically dispelling everyone's suspicions, laying the groundwork for future action. Now, he's succeeded. After the election, he will be the President of the United States, the true holder of power, not some lucky clown. Would such a cunning and meticulous person leave any loopholes for himself?"
"There won't be any human or material evidence. To defeat him, we must strike decisively, forcing him to expose his true self. Only then will the Secret Service and security personnel, even if they object, be forced to accept the reality."
Jack Harvey remained silent. Luke's words were logical, but things couldn't be done that way. Government and the criminal underworld are two distinct organizations. If the government adopted the methods of the underworld, even if successful, it would cause countless negative repercussions.
The government is governed by law, rules, and systems; it cannot act on impulse.
After weighing his options, Jack Harvey still shook his head.
"No, we can't follow your approach."
Luke narrowed his eyes. "Then what do you suggest?"
Jack Harvey frowned, looking conflicted. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "Actually, there are two people who could serve as witnesses."
"Who?"
"Joel Nash's wife, Mrs. Nash, and their daughter, Vanessa." He paused, then added, "The main reason we were able to investigate the Serpent Spirit Society in the Swamp Forest in the first place was Vanessa. She sensed a change in her father and jokingly mentioned her doubts to a classmate, which led to the subsequent investigation."
"Does Vanessa know her father's identity?"
"No. She and her mother are merely confused; it hasn't escalated to suspicion."
"So you want to intensify their confusion and get them to step forward and testify against Joel Nash." Luke nodded, then continued, "It's a good idea, but how do we do it? Our First Lady isn't some simpleton. Even if you show her solid evidence, she might not betray her own husband."
"Then we force her to make a choice."
Jack Harvey said coldly, "Her daughter or her husband? Her father or her mother? I want to see how they choose."
The Target
As autumn arrived, the maple groves at Harvard University were unknowingly draped in a dazzling coat of yellow. Walking through the woods, looking up, one could occasionally see dry yellow maple leaves drifting down from the sky. The ground was covered with thick layers of leaves that crunched underfoot, like freshly baked sesame brittle.
As one of the most famous students in the country, Vanessa had been living at Harvard for three years, yet she still hadn't managed to integrate into the world-renowned university.
She couldn't help it; her father was the President.
"The President's daughter" sounds wonderful, but when it falls upon certain individuals, they find it's not good at all.
As the President's only daughter, she was never without security personnel. The presence of bodyguards created a barrier between her and her classmates and friends, causing a sense of isolation no matter what she did.
She couldn't stay up all night partying with classmates at nightclubs; she couldn't try the popular little pills among young people; she didn't dare confess her feelings to handsome young men...
She couldn't do anything, and gradually became an outcast among the students.
The Cold, Boring Goose!
This was the nickname her classmates had given her in private.
Vanessa was furious about this but powerless to change it. Because of her father, she didn't even dare to confront those who spoke ill of her.
Of course, she wasn't entirely without friends.
Eve Kate, a farm girl from Georgia, was her best friend and confidante. The two were inseparable and told each other everything. Vanessa had even introduced Eve to her parents. However, as the election approached, the frequency of their meetings began to decrease; they could only see each other every few days. Eve was very unhappy about this.
"What is your President father thinking? What right does he have to restrict your freedom?"
Vanessa said awkwardly, "There's been too much trouble recently. He wants to protect me."
"Nonsense!"
Eve snorted angrily. "We've known each other since high school. Don't you think I know what he's like?" She paused, lowering her voice. "Have you noticed that he's changed more and more over the years? Like he's become a different person."
Vanessa was startled. She largely agreed in her heart but disagreed aloud.
"He's the President, after all. There are bound to be changes when you're presiding over the White House."
"Alright, enough talk. Let's go to the theater. The movie is about to start."
The two laughed and walked away. Not long after they left, Luke, dressed in casual clothes, appeared, with a disguised Jack Harvey standing beside him.
"Vanessa Nash. Are you sure you want to choose her as the target?"
Luke shrugged. "Or do you want me to pick the fifty-year-old Mrs. Nash? Young men preying on older women is not my style. Of course, if you're not satisfied, you can go yourself. I won't object."
Jack Harvey roared, "If I were twenty years younger, you wouldn't get the chance!"
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